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Bloody Show: Here’s What You Need to Know

Most mamas freak out a little (or a lot!) if they see bloody mucus during pregnancy. Is it an early sign of labor? Or is it that thing called the mucus plug? Or maybe it’s just another weird pregnancy side effect?

While bloody discharge during pregnancycan signal danger, it doesn’t always mean something bad. For instance, bloody show towards the very end of pregnancy is perfectly normal. And if you think bloody show is just that weird mucus plug thing, think again.

Read on for what bloody show really is, how it’s different from other labor signs, and what it may mean for you.

What is bloody show?

Bloody show is a slang term that describes bleeding during the very end of pregnancy. It can range in color from brown, to pink, to bright red—depending on what’s going on in your body (bright red is the most common though).

It’s normal to have some bloody discharge following a vaginal exam or sex with your partner. But if the blood loss just happens on its own during the very end of pregnancy, then it might just be bloody show.

What does bloody show look like?

Reader Miriam H. shared this photo of her bloody show. Her bloody show came out around 7:30pm, and her baby was born at 2:03am.

What does it mean when I see bloody show?

It means that your body is preparing itself for labor. During the last few weeks of pregnancy, the cervix softens or “ripens,” and it often causes the tiny capillaries around the area to break, leading to some bloody discharge.

There are a few different events that can cause this bloody discharge:

Braxton Hicks contractions that are happening during the third trimester (but not including labor)

The mucus plug is released, and some capillaries break and bleed a little during the process, resulting in bloody mucus

What’s going on in there?

The cervix is undergoing some major changes at the end of pregnancy in preparation for baby’s arrival. While the hormone progesterone begins the initial softening of the cervix at conception, at the 32-week mark this process really kicks things up a notch.

The cervical ripening is accelerated, and the cervix becomes thin, stretched, and more pliable. Pro-inflammatory agents ripen the cervix, and it often becomes a bluish purple color. The cervix will also begin to shorten in what’s known as effacement as it changes shape.

Even though it’s going through some pretty drastic changes, the cervix will remain closed until it begins dilating for active labor. Your body continues to keep this barrier in place to protect your baby from the outside environment until she’s ready to meet the world.

How is it different from the mucus plug?

Many websites and books lump the terms bloody show and mucus plug together, even though they’re actually two different things. When you lose your mucus plug—the first line of protection between the outside world and your baby—there can be some light blood loss, as the capillaries in the cervix sometimes bleed a little as the mucus plug loosens and comes out of the vagina. But there may also be no blood… So losing the mucous plug doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll see blood.

On the contrary: You may see bloody mucus when you lose your mucus plug, but this doesn’t mean it’s bloody show.

Bloody show occurs as the cervix dilates and softens, bursting the capillaries, often after losing the mucus plug. However, labor can begin and the cervix can dilate with no noticeable blood loss. Both the mucus plug and bloody show are early signs of labor, but they’re two separate events. Here’s more information on the mucus plug. (source)

Does bloody show mean labor has started?

Since true bloody show happens when your cervix is softening and ripening in preparation for baby’s arrival, it means that labor is very near. Each woman is different though, and there is no definitive order of events. Labor can come within the next 24 hours, or it could be several days away.

Some women don’t even lose their mucus plug until active labor has begun and never get labor signs like bloody show.

How many kids you have makes a difference too. First-time mamas are more likely to have bloody show before labor starts, so a few days before the actual event. Whereas mamas who have been around the block usually don’t have bloody show until the cervix is actively dilating for labor, and should expect to give birth within 24 hours in most cases. (source)

Helping things along

If you are starting to show early signs of labor like having bloody show, there are some things you can do to support the process.

Make sure you’re getting enough rest so that you have the energy it takes to get through labor. Meditating, taking some deep breaths, and doing other relaxation techniques can help stimulate the hormone oxytocin. This feel-good hormone is released during breast-feeding to help you and your baby bond, but it’s also released during labor to help facilitate the process naturally. (source)

Bloody show during labor

Once labor has already started and contractions are increasing in frequency and intensity, the cervix continues to dilate. The cervix ripens even more during the second phase of labor, which can cause a bloody discharge. This is an encouraging sign, as it means that you’re making progress.

Other natural mamas’ experience with bloody show

I asked the moms on my Facebook page when they saw bloody show, and how soon after that labor started for them. Here are some of their responses:

I noticed a little bloody show around 7 a.m. on a Wednesday morning (not sure how long it had been there), and my sweet babe was born at 11:30 p.m. Thursday night. – Kelsey H.

I lost part of my plug about a week before (just mucus), the rest of my plug and had “show” about 3 hours before my contractions started, and had my daughter 14 hours later. – Becky P.

I had contractions starting at 3 a.m., saw the bloody show at 4 p.m. My son was born at 4:06 a.m. the next morning. – Randi A.

I went into slow labor monday, had my bloody show Tuesday, and gave birth Thursday morning. – Liz O.

I had bloody show at the start of labor, 14 hours before birth. – Jennisue C.

I didn’t have one until I was in transition. I thought it was my water breaking, and it was a show. Baby was born 20 minutes later. – Paige F.

I had show for 2 or 3 weeks prior to the birth of my baby. – Juliana T.

I had a bloody show about 16 hours before my active labor started. I was 11 days past my due date and I saw it when I woke up that morning and went to the bathroom. – Kristen D.S.

I never had any of it with my twins. I was confused when my water started to break (just trickled), and then contractions started a few hours later. Had no show! –Kelsey W.

Never lost my mucous plug or bloody show with my first two (that I noticed). With my last I slowly lost mucous plug over three weeks. I had bloody show Thursday evening then early labor Friday afternoon (dilated me a full centimeter and effaced another 10%), active labor started Saturday evening. – Celesa W.J.

What should I do if I have bloody show?

Monitor the duration and frequency of contractions (if any) to see if it’s an early sign of labor

If it’s bright red and in the first or second trimester, contact your doctor or midwife, since it could be signs of an issue or early labor

When should I be worried?

Slight spotting or bleeding in the last trimester is common, and it’s not a cause for concern unless it’s bright red and there is a significant amount, like more than a tablespoon.

Bleeding earlier than the last few weeks of pregnancy can indicate signs of early labor. Trust your instincts though, and if something doesn’t feel right, contact your doctor or midwife.

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4 Comments

Carly Oct 13 at 7:47 am

Thank you for this detailed info AND for the picture. As gross as it may seem to some people, the picture has helped loads as I just got home from having a stretch and sweep, went to the loo and saw something very similar to the picture above; had no idea if this was what it should look like, but seeing someone else’s has reassured me that’s all it is!

samantha creasman Mar 16 at 5:52 pm

thank you for this wonderful information, it’s the best I’ve read so far, so helpful!! hoping to have my baby boy tomorrow (St. Pattys Day), just started getting my bloody show before 4 pm, (it’s currently ten minutes to 6pm), and this is my second baby. wish me luck!!! 😀

Kay Feb 21 at 4:48 pm

Meghan Sep 7 at 4:08 am

Thanks so much for bringing attention to this. Although I knew of a bloody show, it had always been described to me as some light spotting and as mentioned, in correspondence with the loss of the mucous plug. When I woke and used the restroom and noticed bright, red blood I was startled. It was a significant amount and there were even several large clots. The bleeding persisted through a few trips to the bathroom and as a first time mama I was concerned to say the least. Shortly after the bleeding subsided I began to feel contractions. The show happened just after 7am and I welcomed my son into the world at 10:04pm.